The Exam Season Survival Guide (With Haribo, Not Perfection)
Times have changed
I had a loft bedroom back in the day (we won’t say how long ago). During my GCSES and A-levels, those loft walls were plastered with mind maps, post-it notes, and colour-coded summaries of every topic I needed to know. I followed my hand-drawn revision schedule religiously. I’ve never had a good memory, and I envied those with photographic recall whilst painstakingly filling out revision cards, all my faith pinned to gel pens and pastel highlighters.
The stress was high. No one at home put pressure on me, quite the opposite. After I got a nosebleed following my first exam, my mum threatened to pull me out: “Your mental health is more important than exams.” She was ahead of her time. But I put pressure on myself.
Social media hadn’t exploded yet, that came at uni. I was spared the TikToks on the perfect revision strategy, how to get 9s, what to wear to an exam, how much water to drink, and how to colour-code your notes for maximum success. Today, there’s a constant stream of advice and aesthetics, but sometimes it’s more overwhelming than helpful.
Let’s be honest, the stakes feel high. It’s statistically harder for young people to secure stable employment than it was 10 or 20 years ago. University life is more expensive, and many graduates end up in roles that don’t require degrees. It’s a lot of pressure for a reward that can feel uncertain.
Chloe, Russia and the banana
Chloe starts colour-coding her revision summaries at 2 a.m., crying because her highlighters don’t match what she used on Quizlet. By morning, she hasn’t read a single page, but it looks like she’s working harder than anyone else.
Later, she realises she’s written three summaries on Russia, but nothing on Medieval England - this History exam is doomed. She watches ‘History with Mr Atkinson’s’ TikTok live, wishing she’d made time to watch more of them.
She hates coffee but drinks one anyway, followed by a Red Bull on the way to school. Now she’s both exhausted and wired. She fumbles for the banana in her bag - Instagram said it was “brain fuel.” She twists her lucky ring twice and walks into the exam hall.
The strip lights buzz overhead. The invigilator is wearing high heels that click-clack down the aisles as she recites the rules. Pens tap, papers rustle. The banana churns. Chloe wonders how many students have actually thrown up on their exam paper.
Afterwards, she smiles with her friends, ‘second-to-last exam, almost there!’ But it feels hollow. She turns down McDonald’s and heads home, already worrying about the colour coding for tomorrow’s revision.
Some Thoughts for Students, Parents, and Teachers
Revision is personal. There is no right amount, style, or method. Everyone has different brains, energy levels, attention spans, and learning needs, including those who are neurodivergent. What works for one person might be completely unhelpful to another, and that’s okay.
Don’t compare. That goes for students, parents and teachers. Hold your judgment. Aesthetics doesn’t equal effectiveness.
Overwhelm shuts the body down. If it’s all too much, rest. Step away from screens. Get fresh air. Nap. Talk to a human about something unrelated to school.
Parents, be mindful. When your teen emerges from their room, the first words out of your mouth don’t have to be “How’s revision going?”
Something is better than nothing. Break tasks into tiny steps. Lie down and listen to a podcast. Colour in a diagram. That counts. (Has anyone invented revision colouring books? Because that’s a genius idea.)
Sensory prep matters. Think ahead. Some schools offer adjustments for sensory sensitivities. You can also try things yourself: a fidget ring, hair worn down to soften visual input, soft socks, or weighted items.
Treat yourself like a houseplant or a beloved pet. Eat, rest, move. Burnout is real. It’s better to drop a grade than end up in the hospital.
“Good enough” is enough. One exam won’t decide your life. If you want something, you’ll find your way there — even if the road is roundabout.
Afterwards... You might feel ready to party, or you might feel flat. If you do celebrate, be cautious — exhaustion changes how your body processes substances. It’s okay to skip the party, rewatch Friends, and eat a sharing bag of Haribo.